Per manager Bud Black, Rusin's (oblique) ability to land a rotation spot by Opening Day is "in doubt," Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.
The left-hander strained his oblique earlier in March, and it seems like the ailment is taking longer to heal than initially expected. Rusin is still unable to throw, so a trip to the disabled list could be in the cards, but he my simply have to work out of the bullpen early in the year. Nonetheless, a firmer timetable for his return to action should come forth once he gets back to throwing. In the meantime, Jeff Hoffman and German Marquez seem to be the frontrunners to land the final two rotation spots, with Antonio Senzatela, Kyle Freeland and Harrison Musgrave also giving chase.